New owners at Mr. Suds
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| Amanda and Jim Tompkins, new owners of Mr. Suds Car Wash. |
Jim and Amanda Tompkins purchased the business from Villelli Enterprises Inc., and took over operations April 1. Jim was raised in Bonners Ferry, Amanda moved here 16 years ago from Niagara Falls, New York.
There's not a lot about the business they don't know, Jim has managed it for five years. Now, he said, he'll be able to make the business decisions on his own.
"Right now, we're working to keep it 100-percent reliable and user friendly," he said. They just got everything needed to offer key account passes, meaning customers with an account can be build for use once a month instead of gathering a pocket full of quarters every time they visit.
"We'll upgrade slowly, as we can," Amanda said. "New soaps, new vending machines."
"It's an investment for us," Jim added. "We don't expect to make much from it in the beginning, but we're here for the long run."
According to Amanda, running Mr. Suds doesn't take a lot of time, particularly when they work together.
"It's a couple of hours a day, keeping it stocked and clean, doing maintenance and making repairs," she said.
And that's a good thing; they also manage the Kootenai Valley Motel and Jim works the 3 a.m. to noon shift at the Idaho Forest Group Mill in Moyie Springs.
"We stay busy," Amanda laughed.
To find out more, call (208) 610-4939.